Chapter 5

"What is your name, son?" a tall guy , standing in front of the kid asked.

He was wearing a long white kurta, and a rudraksh mala was wrapping around his hand.

"Why do you want my name? There is no one to whom you can complain. I live my own," that boy replied rudely.

He felt exceptionally interesting to see a kid with such a rage. He may be seven to eight years old, not more than that. But, from his attitude, it could be said that he had seen the ugliest part of human life.

That boy was wearing a pant which barely touched his knees, and on top a shirt with many holes in it. Probably he picked it up from some garbage. No one could guess its original color. He was struggling to survive, fighting to feed himself.

"Why would I complain?" he bent down close to his face, and said with a smile, " do you think you have done something wrong? "

He did not answer. Actually, he was confused. That was the first time when he stole from someone and after getting caught the conversation was not started with a slap on his cheek.

"I just stole from you, " he said at last.

Though the attitude of that little one did not changed.

In real, he was the words he used to were rascal, bastard and all that kind of words, and he knew quite well how to react to those words; first run and then if possible attack them with his best weapon, small stones. But, someone calling him son, even after he got caught of stealing from that man was new to him. He did not know how to respond to him.

"You know what is it?" that tall guy asked, taking out the chain from the pocket of that boy’s pants.

"No, and I don't care. Only thing that matters to me is that I can eat happily for three days if I can sell this, "

“You are a brave kid,” The man chuckled and asked, "What about you give it to me and I will feed you whatever you want, how about that?"

"I have got caught. So you will take it from me anyway, and I don't need your sympathy. I may have no family, no parents, but I can take care of myself, "

"You know, you are a smart kid."

"Just take the chain and do whatever you want, I told you I do need your sympathy,” he said.

"You can keep it. It's yours." He took the chain, and tide it to neck of the boy.

The kid was flabbergasted. He could not understand what was going on.

"Now, we can go somewhere nice and eat something. What do you say! I am starving.” he said to the boy, moving his hands over his tummy,” At least you can show where we can find good food here. I am sure you know a place like this,"

On that day, the kid went with him. He ate with that stranger, properly in a table, not in a footpath. He learned that the world was not filled with bad people. Not everyone here was trying to do bad things. Some of them were good, kin –hearted too.

His life changed on that day. He got a name…

SURYA

It means the sun. Maybe, that name was given to him because of glowing tremendous energy he was holding inside.

And after several years, that locket was still hanging from his neck, and the man who offered him food on that day was still with him. Everyone called him Gurudev.

Surya became the part of something bigger, something secretive no one could possibly know.

"From now on, all of you are the part of the shrine, part of our secret society which we call the Ghost,"

Gurudev was telling about the history of the shrine to some kid which he found somewhere like Surya.

He was sitting on a raised platform made of stone while others were sitting on the grass.

"Today is your first day. I took you here because I can see the potential inside you to do something. Forget what you are. You are not a boy anymore. You have to devote yourself completely to the shrine, "

"What do you want us to?" A boy from them asked.

"I want to give you a purpose. Purpose, of your life."

No one understood what he said. Looking at their blank faces he spoke again, " most of the people you met earlier are doing something without knowing what they are doing these. They are doing something that they are not meant to do. Moving without proper direction, "

"Can you tell us about the secret society?"

Gurudev took a breath, thinking about what he asked in his mind, and then said, "I am not sure you are able to understand it or not. This is a hundred years old society which is like a shield to the lives on earth. There was a hero, named Bharata. He started a fight, a war. Before him, no one had ever thought of doing something like this,"

"What happened in the fight? Did he win?" one of them asked,

"I never told you the fight ended. It's still going on. This is a war which never going to end. He realized it soon after he jumped into them. That's why he captured them and locked them down one after one,"

"You mean inside the temple of pillars?"

"Yes, that's like a jail for all those bad things. Inside it, there are infinite numbers of pillars, and inside every pillar, there is something trapped. In simple language, a monster, or you can call it a demon. That's why he built that far away from the reach of humans. Most of them who knows about the existence of the temple of pillars, but they don't know what's inside,"

"Is it true that he was a uniped?"

"Yes, that's true. He lost his left leg while fighting with a demon. That's why he always used a crutch to walk. But, this does not mean that he was weak somehow. His strength was more than you can imagine, and the crutch, he used it as a weapon. There were many spells hidden inside it."

"Where is the crutch now?"

"Unfortunately, no one knows where is it. It got lost after his death,"

"You said that this is not going end. Why is that?"

"Those things we are against are like a virus, an infection. They feed on fear. So, as long we will have fear in our minds, they will be alive. The only way to wipe them out permanently is by creating the human race without fear, which is nearly impossible."

"If we know that we can't win, then what is the meaning of fighting?"

"We are fighting because this fight is not about winning or losing. This is about protecting what ours. We are the hope for the people outside,"

Gurudev saw Surya was waiting next to them. He knew why he was here.

"You can go and start your practices,"

He dismissed the lesson.

"Gurudev, you wanted to see me?" Surya said, coming closure to him.

"How are you doing these days? Are you able to focus on your work?" he asked very gently.

"Yes, Gurudev. My mind is in peace now,"

"Do you remember the first day of you in here?" He asked, with a glance of a smile on his face.

"I do. I was a different person then. I was broke, moving without any purpose in my life. I feel lucky that you found me, and made me a better person,"

"That person was already inside you. I just gave a chance to develop it. Now I am proud of my decision," Gurudev tapped on his shoulder.

"This is the new life you gave me. That's why I am fully devoted to you. I will do whatever you want me to do,"

"Your devotion should be for the shrine and our society,"

"Is there anything you want me to do?" he looked at him for an order.

"Yes, I have an important task for you. Come with me,"

They came towards the shrine from the open field and started to walk on the long corridor. Surya was following him without saying a single word. He watched Gurudev with his side-eye view. Though his face always had the same expression, whether it was something good or bad, that day there was something different about it. Surya could feel it at the moment he was summoned. He was said that there was something extremely important.

Walking through the stairs, they reached the first floor. Though it's a fort and from a birds-eye view no one could tell the difference, but every room was somehow different from others. This floor, has a series of doors, each leading a room with its own significance. One of them was kept for the research of new species found on earth. Another one is to create spells against monsters, and Surya's favorite room which is the combat training room.

They entered his room. A man was there, cleaning it with a mop.

"You can go now," Gurudev said to him.

Bowing to him, that man left.

"Have a seat,"

Surya was silent, but inside his mind, a lot of things were running. He was trying to figure out what was going on.

"Maybe there is something he will send me to hunt down," he thought.

Gurudev poured some juice to his glass from the jar and drank it.

"You must be thinking of what the emergency is,"

"Are you going to send me on a hunt?" he questioned him with a doubt in his voice.

"I want to send you to a place, but not to hunt anyone, not this time. This time you are going just for an investigation and if my information is correct, which probably is, then you have to bring someone to our shrine with proper protection."

"I do not understand. What investigation are you talking about?"

"Do you know about the place Kimbala?"

"Yes, it's where the temple of pillars was built. It's a river island,"

"Correct, and now I have got a piece of news about the temple. I was told that the seal was broken and someone entered inside it,"

"That's impossible. Only the heir of Bharata can enter inside it,"

"That's what I am afraid of. I think the heir of Bharata was there."

"If that's true, then isn't it good news?"

"It depends, who can find the heir. Because if some else found him, it won't be good."

"And that's why you want me to go there and bring him to our shrine,"

"You are one of the best. I can trust you for that. But remember, he is very special. So, bring him with respect and honor,"

"Don't worry, Gurudev. It's an honor for me that I am going to meet him. I will protect him with my life,"

"I know. Keep this as a secret until it's confirmed. I don't want to spread any false news,"

"I should prepare myself for the journey then," he stood up.

Gurudev also stood up. Surya came closer to him and touched his feet.

"My blessings are with you, VIJAY BHABA," Gurudev showed his palm to bless.

Surya got of his room with a confused state of mind. He did not know what to feel. He should be happy that Gurudev had given him such a responsibility, or he should be tensed that he had something big to do.

There were some boys practicing sword fighting. He stopped there for some time, looking at them.

Once, he was standing at their position. Whatever he is now, this is only because of Gurudev. Going to Kimbala was not be easy, but he had to do it.

"Hey, is everything okay? You look tensed." Riyaj asked from behind.

"Nothing, I have got a duty to perform. So, I want you to keep an eye on the jungle until I return," he replied.

"Sure, I can do that," he said smiling.

"Don't get over-excited. I am asking you just to keep an eye. if something happened, inform Gurudev. Don't get involve. Is that understood?"

"Okay, cross my heart. Where are you going by the way,"

"I can not tell you now." he shook his head.

"Is it a hunt,"

"Nope, not this time. Just an inquiry,"

"It would not take long then,"

"Not sure, the place where I am going is far from here, and the situation is critical,"

"I can go with you if you want,"

"That won't be necessary. You stay here and do your job,"

"Okay," he shrugged.

Surya entered his room and exhaled a sigh. His room was filled with weapons. Small knives, big knives, different swords were hanged on the wall. He stood in front of the wall, looking at those weapons. He was thinking about what to take with him. This time he was not going to need big, eye-catching weapons. It's just an inquiry. So it's better not to pull anybody's attention.

After Surya left, Gurudev got busy in reading books. He was reading about the Kimbala and the temple of pillars. He read all about that place many times before. Still, he had doubts that he missed something.

He was searching if there was the slightest possibility of breaking the seal of the temple without the hair of Bharata. If that happened, then the situation would be worse. There were thousands of demons trapped inside those pillars, and even one of them got out, no one would survive on earth.